About
the Northwestern Volleyball Club
The Northwestern Volleyball Club is
all about, well, volleyball. Volleyball
is an excellent team sport. Unlike many
sports, volleyball is a sport that you can play for a lifetime. Regardless of your ability, there are
numerous local leagues. In the
The Northwestern Volleyball Club operates
3 separate programs:
Developmental
Program playing in association
with the NYAA (Northwestern Youth Athletic Association)
The
Northwestern Volleyball Club is dedicated to teaching youth how to play. Our developmental program is available to
kids in 5th grade (4th grade with permission) and older. We split the kids into levels based on their
abilities. Each level has twice weekly
practices geared toward improving their individual skills and team play. Please note that the children do not need to
be students in the Northwestern Lehigh school district to participate and there
are no tryouts required.
We operate year-round during the school year with seasons in the Fall (beginning of school through early November), Winter
(December through February), and Spring (March and April.)
The Levels:
Level 1
Level 1 is
for beginners. Here we teach the basics:
underhand serving, forearm passing, basic setting, and standing spiking. We work towards the kids utilizing 3 hits on
each offensive possession. Generally, we
have 4 weeks of practices focusing on individual skills meeting twice per week. Starting in the 5th week, we
continue the twice weekly practices but add intra-club games on Saturday
mornings. The program is ten weeks in
duration. If possible, we will schedule
scrimmages against other youth organizations.
Level 2
Level 2 is
for beginner-plus players. Before moving
to this level, kids need to be able to do the basic skills: underhand serving,
forearm passing, basic setting, and standing spiking. While continuing to improve the skill level
of the kids, in Level 2 we introduce true team play with offensive (a 4-2
offense – 4 hitters and 2 setters) and defensive formations, advanced setting
and spiking. Generally, we have 4 weeks
of practices focusing on individual skills and team play meeting twice per
week. Starting in the 5th
week, we continue the twice weekly practices but add intra-club games on
Saturday mornings. The program is ten
weeks in duration. If possible, we will
schedule scrimmages against other youth organizations.
Level 3
Level 3 is
for advanced players. Before moving to
this level, kids need to be able to do the basic skills: underhand serving, forearm
passing, setting, and spiking while also understanding offensive and defensive
formations. While continuing to improve
the skill level of the kids, in Level 3, we introduce advanced team play with a
6-2 offense (6 hitters and 2 setters), 4-person serve reception, and 6-back
defense, advanced setting and spiking, overhand serving, and game
strategy. Generally, we have 4 weeks of
practices focusing on both individual skills and team play meeting twice per
week. Starting in the 5th
week, we continue the twice weekly practices but add intra-club games on
Saturday mornings. This group will also
seek to scrimmage against other clubs and/or teams as well as playing in a
tournament or two. The program is ten
weeks in duration.
High School
The high
school group is paired with the Level 3 group.
They learn the same skills and offensive and defensive systems. Often these two groups are merged together.
Tournament Program
(Girls only) playing in association
with the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union)
For
players interested in more competitive play, we offer a tournament program. Kids will need to attend a tryout (in
November) where they will have to demonstrate the necessary skills: serving,
forearm passing, setting, and spiking.
The teams will employ advanced team play with a 6-2 (6 hitters and 2
setters) or 5-1 (5 hitters and 1 setter) offense, 3 or 4-person serve
reception, 6-back defense, utilizing a Libero,
advanced setting and spiking, and game strategy. Tournament teams will practice twice during
the week and also on Saturdays in January and February. The teams will play in 5 or more
tournaments. Practices start after Thanksgiving
and continue through April or early May as long as there are tournaments to
play. Costs will be determined by the number
of kids participating and tournaments to be played. Our tournament teams for 2010-11 cost $350.
We currently
field girls teams in the 18 and under, 16 and under and 14 and under
divisions. As our program grows, we plan
on adding girls teams in the 13 and under, 15 and
under and 17 and under divisions. We’d
like to start fielding teams for boys in the near future.
Adult Program
This group
is available to any one who wishes to play the sport. It is an open gym concept - whoever shows up
plays. No fee is charged. This
usually starts in March and runs through April.